John Fulkerson, MD, is the father of patellofemoral surgery and continues to amaze me with his deep thinking about how the patella tracks in the front of the femur and how we can improve our understanding of this complex joint. With a better understanding, we can develop better algorithms to treat our patients.
In this blog post, John discusses how using 3D imaging to build models based on CT scans with the knee in full extension and at 20 degrees of flexion has helped him understand how to best treat his patients. Very subtle anatomic variations can predispose some patients to patellar instability and others to arthritis. Ideally, we treat these patients early and avoid the disability associated with recurrent dislocations and/or arthritis.
Read his full post on Healio (Orthopedicstoday): BLOG: 3D patellofemoral joint imaging provides new path for better surgical planning
There’s also an article in The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery on this topic: Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Patellofemoral Joint Improves Understanding of Trochlear Anatomy and Pathology and Planning of Realignment.
Photo by Stockcake